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AEC Trust

Annual Giving
$3.7M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M

AEC Trust - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,692,000 (2023)
  • Assets: $48.4 million
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Average Grant: $24,450
  • Geographic Focus: Atlanta/Decatur/Clarkston GA, Boulder County CO (unsolicited); MA, RI, Gainesville FL (invitation only)
  • Status: Winding down operations as of 2025

Contact Details

Address: Wilmington, DE Trustee: CIBC National Trust Company Online Portal: https://online.foundationsource.com/ws/index.jsp?site=aec

Note: No public contact information (phone/email) is available.

Overview

The AEC Trust is a private foundation established in 1980 as a philanthropic grantmaking organization. With assets totaling approximately $48.4 million, the Trust has awarded 604 grants totaling $11,999,624 since 2018. The foundation operates under the guidance of CIBC National Trust Company as trustee, with an advisory board that includes members of the Cofrin family, the foundation's major donors. The Trust focuses on supporting initiatives in arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, with particular emphasis on women's issues and people living with AIDS.

Important Note: In 2025, the AEC Trust began winding down its grantmaking after more than four decades of philanthropy. Invitations to submit funding requests are now sent directly from Trust representatives to invited applicants only, with no additional invitations being extended.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The AEC Trust historically operated with two annual application periods (May 15 - September 1 and October 15 - April 1), though these may no longer be applicable given the wind-down status.

  • Standard Grants: $10,000 - $50,000 per award (average grant: $24,450)
  • Application Method: Historically rolling/fixed deadlines; now invitation-only as of 2025
  • Recent Activity: 151 awards totaling $3,692,000 in 2023

Priority Areas

The Trust supports projects within the following fields:

  • Arts and Culture: Museums and cultural institutions
  • Education: Educational programs and initiatives
  • Environment: Environmental conservation and protection projects
  • Health and Human Services:
    • Programs targeting women and girls
    • Services for people living with HIV/AIDS
    • Health initiatives for individuals with diseases and illnesses

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Endowment campaigns
  • Annual fund campaigns
  • Sponsorships
  • Scholarships
  • Special events
  • Government agencies
  • Political organizations
  • Religious organizations

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: CIBC National Trust Company (Compensation: $211,022)

Advisory Board: Members of the Cofrin family serve on the advisory board, which sets policy and reviews grant applications. Advisory board members are not compensated for their roles.

Major Donors: Members of the Cofrin family

Specific names of individual advisory board members are not publicly available.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status (2025): The AEC Trust does not have a public application process as it is winding down its grantmaking operations. Invitations to submit funding requests are sent directly from Trust representatives to invited applicants only. No additional invitations are being extended.

Historical Process (for reference):

  • Organizations could apply through an online portal
  • Eligibility quiz available through the foundation's website
  • Two application periods annually: May 15 - September 1 and October 15 - April 1
  • Organizations could apply only once in a 12-month period

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Geographic Restrictions:
    • Unsolicited proposals accepted from: Atlanta, Decatur, or Clarkston, Georgia, and Boulder County, Colorado
    • Invitation-only regions: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Gainesville, Florida
  • Grant requests must fall between $10,000 and $50,000
  • Requests cannot exceed 25% of the organization's annual budget
  • Requests cannot exceed 50% of the project budget

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Historical deadlines included April 1 and September 20 application dates.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations could historically apply only once in a 12-month period.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited publicly available information about specific selection criteria, the following factors are based on the Trust's stated priorities:

  • Geographic Alignment: Projects must serve the specified geographic areas (Atlanta/Decatur/Clarkston GA or Boulder County CO for unsolicited applications)
  • Budget Appropriateness: Grant requests must represent a reasonable proportion of organizational and project budgets (max 25% of annual budget, 50% of project budget)
  • Priority Population Focus: Projects serving women and girls or people living with HIV/AIDS appear to be of particular interest
  • Field Alignment: Strong alignment with one of the four core areas (arts/culture, education, environment, health/human services)
  • Financial Sustainability: The budget restrictions suggest the Trust prefers to support organizations with diverse funding sources rather than serving as a primary funder

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wind-Down Status: As of 2025, the AEC Trust is no longer accepting unsolicited applications and is winding down operations after 44 years
  • Invitation-Only: Only organizations directly invited by Trust representatives can submit proposals
  • Historical Context: Over its operational history, the Trust awarded an average of 140-151 grants per year at an average of $24,450 per grant
  • Geographic Restrictions: Even during active grantmaking, the Trust had very specific geographic limitations
  • Budget Discipline: The Trust enforced strict budget percentage caps to ensure grants complemented rather than dominated organizational or project budgets
  • No Public Contact: The foundation operates through its trustee (CIBC National Trust Company) with limited public-facing communication channels
  • Long Partnership Focus: The wind-down message expressed "sincere gratitude to past grantees for their partnership," suggesting the Trust valued ongoing relationships with grantees

References

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